"Affordable" district with good schools/good commute to city? (Alameda: to rent, townhome)

[jesslauren310]

Hi everyone!

We are possibly being transferred to San Fran for my husband's job and I was wondering if anyone could give us a little insight on a good location. We are looking for somewhere safe and with good schools with a reasonable commute to the city (public transit preferred). We have two kids, a 10 year old and a one year old, so 3 bedroom is what we'd need. We are looking to pay about 3k a month or less, but might be able to stretch it a little. I'm not sure if this is even possible in the Bay area, but I figured it would be best to post here and ask!

Thanks!

[sav858]

Pleasant Hill. Martinez would work too but it's a longer drive to the closest BART station.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Sounds like the OP (like many prospective newcomers) is in search of a place like the more moderate Westchester and N. NJ suburbs, where the price is 1/2 or even 1/3 that of Manhattan.

Nope.

[shooting4life]

Might as well ask for the winning lottery numbers.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by sav858

Pleasant Hill. Martinez would work too but it's a longer drive to the closest BART station.

Eh. Pleasant Hill looks like it has some good elementary schools but the Middle Schools / High Schools are just so-so: California School Ratings, school profiles, test scores - Contra Costa County

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

Might as well ask for the winning lottery numbers.

pet unicorn while we're at it

[beb0p]

Com'on, things are not THAT bad. Stop scaring newcomers!

The East Bay is generally more affordable and more of a bargain, I recommend Castro Valley, Alameda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, etc. They all have BART stops except for Alameda, which has ferry.

Here are a few that is around $3,000.

Beautiful Townhome - Castro Valley

Palomares Hills

Spacious 3 bedroom/2 bath home in Walnut Creek

Northgate area,

A Must See! Fantastic Location! Beautiful Three Bedroom Apt Home!

.

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by beb0p

Com'on, things are not THAT bad. Stop scaring newcomers!

They're not? My rent has gone up 17% in the last two years alone

[smashystyle]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

Eh. Pleasant Hill looks like it has some good elementary schools but the Middle Schools / High Schools are just so-so: California School Ratings, school profiles, test scores - Contra Costa County

8/10 isn't so-so. It's good/decidedly above-average. This isn't Lake Wobegon and not every school can be a 10/10 (not to mention that there are probably unhealthy dynamics to sending your kid to the type of hyper-competitive place that it takes to be rated a 10/10).

[beb0p]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

They're not? My rent has gone up 17% in the last two years alone

Only 17%? Count your lucky stars.

Be that as it may, the OP is budgeting $3,000; and some people scoff at that amount. Fact is $3,000 is plenty enough to rent a nice place in a nice neighborhood somewhere in the East Bay. That's the bottom line.
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